What To Look Out For When Buying Garden Furniture
Choose and maintain your garden furniture with the help of this guide.Garden furniture is now a fashion item as the patio and garden increasingly become an additional functional space to the home.
It will be worthwhile doing some research before buying any garden furniture.If you choose the right set for you it will bring you much enjoyment and longevity.Here are some important tips to bear in mind.
The first thing that you will need to decide is whether you want furniture that you can store away over winter or that you can leave outside all year round.If you have made the decision to keep the furniture in the garden throughout the year, it will need to be made from hardwearing materials like hardwood, aluminium or rust free wrought iron.It is well worth spending the money on the heavier more durable materials as this will be much more cost effective in the long run.
You will benefit greatly from choosing the best materials and design for the purpose.Take inspiration from your garden or patio area when choosing the material.Try to avoid materials that will upset the balance of your garden.
Because of it is lightweight, comfortable and beautiful, wood is the best material for garden furniture.Choose a tropical hardwood which is high in natural oil content like teak, iroko or courbaril.You can leave such woods outside throughout the seasons.
Make sure that mortice and tenon joints are used for your teak garden furniture and not bolts which corrode.If there are metal nuts and bolts, make sure that they are made from rust proof materials namely: aluminium, stainless steel or brass.
Check that teak garden furniture has been made from premium grade teak, this will ensure that there are no cracks or defects in the wood.Premium manufacturers dry the wood in a kiln to seal in the moisture and avoid cracks forming.
All joints should have been assembled with glues containing epoxy resin which is weather resistant.
The best way to clean your teak furniture is to scrub it with hot soapy water, this will restore the weathered silvery look.
If you have access to a pressure hose, you can hose the surface of the furniture from time to time, be sure to hold the hose at least 30cm from the surface as you spray and keep pressure between 60 – 80bar (psi 900 – 1200).Add a small amount of bleach to the water once a year. This will stop algae growing on the surface.
Any stains and grease spots can be immediately removed by washing down using a light detergent then rinsing off with clean water as soon as they occur. However, this is not essential as nature will take its course over time.
You may notice hairline cracks in the surface when the weather is dry.This is natural and no action needs to be taken as when the moisture in the atmosphere increases the timber will return to its original condition.
Teak oil improves the look of the furniture rather than the lifespan, apply it to new furniture for best results.Be sure to read the instructions carefully before use.If the wood is wet, the teak oil will darken on contact so make sure it is fully dried out before you start.
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Tags: garden furniture, outdoor furniture, patio furniture, teak furniture, teak garden furniture, wooden garden furniture